Introduction: The differential diagnosis of stroke in a comparatively young adult should always include cardiovascular aetiologies as well as central nervous system infection.
Case presentation: A 56-year-old man, with no significant medical history, presented with headache, nausea and vomiting, and right hemiparesis. Routine stroke investigation was initiated, while CNS infection was also sought. Diagnoses of HIV infection, neurosyphilis, HCV and HBV were established. Targeted therapy resulted in prompt clinical improvement.
Conclusion: This case highlights the importance of considering CNS infection as a cause of neurological deficits in parallel with other investigations in cases of stroke in a comparatively young adult.
Learning points: The differential diagnosis should be wide for all patients presenting with stroke.Neurosyphilis should be included in the differential diagnosis of stroke in the young and middle-aged.Newly diagnosed HIV patients should be screened for other, sexually transmitted coinfection.
Keywords: AIDS; HCV; HIV; Stroke in the young; neurosyphilis; syphilis.